Machine for producing frozen confections



Sept. 6, 1938.

' E. L. ELWELL 2,128,992

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FROZEN CONFEGTIONS I NV E .\'TOR.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1938. E. ELWELL 2 MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FROZENCONFECTIONS Filed Nov. 2, 1935 3 Shets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. m

ATTORNEY-5,

Sept. 6, 1938. E. L. ELWELL 2,128,992

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FROZEN CONFECTIONS Filed Now r. 2, 1935 3Sheets-She't 3 J6 I 66 76 5 INVENTOR. dwz/mL.El/weZ// ATTORNEY5.

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE,

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FROZEN CONFECTIONS Edwin L. Elwell, Baltimore,Md., assignor to Eskimo Pie Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporationof Delaware Application November 2, 1935, Serial No. 47,943

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for inserting sticks into frozenconfections, and has particularly to do with a machine for insertingsticks into frozen confections while the confections are in the moldsin'which they were previously frozen.

The objects of the invention include among others the provision of a newand improved confection making machine, the provision of an unique meansfor providing a frozen confection With a stick or handle, the provisionof a new and improved method of inserting stick handles into frozenconfections, and the provision of a new and improved method of handlingfrozen confections and stick handles to be inserted therein.

These objects, and other objects which will hereinafter appear, areobtained by the new method and the unique arrangement, novel combinationand improved construction of elements hereinafter described and claimed.A machine embodying one form of the invention and adapted for carryingout the new and improved method is illustrated in the accompanying threesheets of drawings, hereby made a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying and adaptedfor carrying out the invention;

Figure 2 is a left hand side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section of the machine of Figure 1 on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section of the machine on line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in thedrawings and-in the following description.

The method of the present invention consists roughly of punching holesin a unitary group of previously frozen confections, arranging theproper number of suitable sticks or handles in a group, as for instancein a special holder or rack, in positions corresponding to the positionsof the confections in the group, placing and orientating the group ofsticks over the group of confections, and driving the sticks, preferablyall at one time, into the confections. This method may be carried out bythe use of the new and improved machine herein disclosed.

The foundation of the machine is a rigid frame consisting of fourvertical posts II], II, I2 and I3, and two transverse members, I! at thetops of the posts and 20 near the middle points of the posts. Thetransverse members hold the posts in rectangular arrangement as shown inFigure 4. The lower ends of the posts are reduced to fit within socketsI5. on feet I6. The upper reduced ends I4 of the posts are reduced andthreaded and are held in apertured bosses I8 on the frame member I1,being secured there by nuts I9 threaded onto the reduced ends I4. 5

The frame member 20 is provided with bosses 2| which fit about the postsII), II, I2 and I3 and are secured thereon by pins 22.

The frame member 20 has on its under side a central boss 23 having anaperture 24 which extends through the frame 20. Two additional bosses 25are located one at each side of the central boss 23. Each has anaperture 26 which extends through the frame 20. As shown in Figure 4,the frame 20 is enlarged at 21 and an aperture 28 is formed in theenlarged part.

Two side frame members 30 and 3| are provided with elongated bosses 32apertured to fit about the posts It], II, I2 and I3. Frame member 30 is.mounted on posts I2 and I3 near the lower ends thereof and frame member3| is mounted on posts If) and II in a corresponding position. Collars29 on the posts hold the frame members at the selected position.

semicircular bearing standards 33 are cast integrally with the framemembers 30 and 3| to one side of the central line of the machine. Ahearing cap 35 is attached to each bearing standard 33 by bolts or studs34.

A shaft 36 is journaled in the bearing formed by the bearing standards33 and the bearing caps 35. Shaft 36 extends to the right of the machineas shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Theshaft 36 supports a split bearing block 31 midway between the framemembers 30 and 3|. Bearing block 37 extends to a short distance from theinside ends of the bearing standards 33 and comprises an upper block 38and a lower block 39 clamped together about the shaft 36 by bolts 40.The bearing block 31 is provided with an aperture 4| in alignment withaperture 24in frame member 26, and two apertures 42 one at each side ofaperture M and in alignment with apertures 26 in frame member 20.

Two stations A and B on the machine are indi- 45 cated in Figure 1. Thetop transverse frame member I! supports punches 46 at station A andblocks or stops 48 at station B. Stations A and B are diametricallyacross from one another in the machine. 50

At station A the punches 4B are supported. by a head comprising verticalplates 43 secured to the frame member IT. A horizontal plate 44 issecured to the plates 43 and has tapped apertures to receive threadedstuds 45 on punches 46. Each punch has a tapered shoulder 41 above thepunch proper.

At station B, blocks 48 have threaded studs 49 which are screwed into ahorizontal plate 50. The plate 59 has two transverse inverted U -shapedchannels 5! to provide means for attachment to the frame member I! andalso to allow clearance for the two handles of a stick rack in itsraised position, as will be later described. The blocks are of the samenumber as the punches and are in the same relative positions except thatthe positions are reversed.

A vertical guide bar 52 is located adjacent the vertical post I andparallel to the post. The bar 52 extends between the transverse framemember I! and transverse frame member 20 and is provided near its lowerend with a notch 53.

The driving means for the machine is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.A motor 54 is coupled to a speed reducing gear box 55 by a couplingmember 56. A grooved pulley is keyed on a drive shaft 58 from the gearbox 55. A belt 59 connects the pulley 51 to a pulley 60 keyed on aclutch sleeve 6i. The clutch sleeve 6| rides freely on the shaft 36. Aclutch 62 of the conventional type is mounted on the clutch sleeve 6|. Aclutch operating collar 63 is splined to shaft 36 and has acircumferential groove 64 to receive operating pins. The clutchoperating mechanism is carried by an arm 65 which is secured to post I0by a split boss 66 and locking bolts W. The extended end of arm 65 isapertured to receive a shaft 68. A clutch operating arm 69 is keyed onone end of the shaft 68 and is spaced from the arm 65 by a collar I0.The free end of arm 69 is provided with a yoke II which encircles thecollar 63. Pins 12 at the sides of the yoke II engage the groove 64 inthe collar 63 to provide for movement of collar 63 on shaft 36 by meansof arm 69 and yoke II.

An operating lever I3 is keyed to shaft 68. One end of a link I5 ispivoted by the stud I4 to lever I3. The other end of the link ispivotally secured to the depending arm of a bell crank The bell crank l6is pivotally mounted on a stud TI on the boss 32 about the post I0. Anindexing rod 89 is pivoted to the horizontal arm of bell crank 16 by apin 88 and extends vertically thereabove. The upper end of the rod 89passes through the aperture 28 in frame member 20.

The shaft 36 carries a pair of eccentrics 90. One eccentric is adjacenteach end of the bearing block 31. Circumferential straps 9| forming partof connecting rods 92 encompass the eccentrics 96. The ends of rods 92are apertured to receive transverse rod 93.

Two vertical shafts 94 are reciprocally mounted in apertures 42 in thebearing blocks 31, and in apertures 26 in the frame member 20. Collars95 are pinned on the shafts 94. Below collars 95 are blocks 96. Blocks96 are provided with vertical apertures 91 to receive the shafts 94, andhorizontal apertures 98 to receive the transverse rod 93.

A vertical central shaft 99 is reciprocably mounted in aperture 4| inthe bearing block 3! and aperture 24 in frame member 20. A flangedcollar 99a. is pinned on the shaft 99 and engages the underside of crossshaft 93 to insure that shaft 99 lowers with transverse rod 93.

' The upper end of shaft 99 supports a turntable I00 concentric with theshaft. The turntable is provided with diametrically opposed notches IOIand I02 (Figure 4) adapted to register with the guide bar 52 in sequenceduring periods of operation. The turntable I00 is also provided withapertures I03 and I04 which register in sequence with the upper end ofthe indexing rod 39 during periods of operation.

A rectangular reinforcing plate I05 is secured to the under side of theturntable I90 and is provided with a collar I06 pinned to the centralshaft 99. A thrust bearing I 01 is positioned about shaft 99 between theframe member 20 and the collar I06. The thrust bearing I 07 remainsadjacent the frame member 20 at all times.

Four parallel angle irons I08 are secured on the top of turntable I00 inany suitable manner. The angle ironsl08 have a horizontal web I09terminating in an upturned flange H0 and a depending flange III. Theends of the webs I09 are turned up toform end flanges H2. The angleirons are in pairs forming two rectangular pockets I I3, one pocketbeing located at each side of the center line of the turntable. Thepockets II3 are adapted to receive confection molds H5. The upturnedflanges H0 and H2 engage the sides and ends, respectively, of molds H5and maintain them in position on the turntable.

The molds I I5 comprise a plurality of individual confection pockets H6.The upper open ends of such pockets are anchored in a splash pan Ill andthe lower ends are spaced'apart and braced in their relative positionsby strips I I9 welded to the lower ends of the pockets.

Each rectangular pocket II 3 is placed so that when the mold II5 is inposition in it and the turntable correctly set at one or another of itstwo positions, each mold II5 will be at station A or station B and eachconfection pocket II6 directly under a punch 46 or a block 48.

In preparing frozen confections, the pockets I I6 are filled to thedesired level with a material to be frozen, and the material issolidified by chilling to form a frozen confection H8.

A mold II 5 containing frozen confections is placed within the socket II3 on the turntable I00. The turntable I00 is turned around to bring themold II5 directly under the punches at station A. The turntable in itslowermost position turns freely on thrust bearings I0'I, the edge of theturntable running through the notch 53 in the guide bar 52.

Driving power from the motor 54 through the gear box 55, belt 59, andpulleys 5'! and 60 is delivered to the clutch 62. The clutch lever 13 ismoved toward the machine to bring the clutch cone 63 into engagementwith the clutch 62 and transmit the rotation from the clutch 62 to theshaft 36. Before the clutch is engaged the movement of lever I3 pushesthe link 75 which rocks the bell crank I6 in a clockwise direction toraise the indexing rod 89. The upper end of the indexing rod 89penetrates an aperture I03 or I04 in turntable I 00 and holds theturntable in a position to align the mold II5 with the punches or knifeblocks, bringing a notch IOI Or I 02 to a position in line with theguide bar 52 along which the notch must slide. Until the indexing rod 89penetrates the aperture I03 the clutch cannot be engaged. After theclutch is engaged the indexing rod keeps the turntable in properposition until the notch IOI or I02 engages the guide bar 52.

Upon engagement of the clutch the turntable I00 is raised by therotation of the eccentrics 80, on shaft 36, lifting the connecting rods92. The transverse rod'93 carried by the connecting rods '92 forces theblocks 96 upwardly'against the collars-K95 pinned toreciprocating shafts94. The upper ends of shafts -94lift the plate I05 onturntable I forcingthe turntable upward.

When the turntable I00 raises slightly the notch IN or I02 engagestheguide bar 52 and maintains the alignment of the molds II with thepunches or blocks after the turntable has lifted above the end of theindexing rod 89.

Continued raisingof the turntable I00 brings the confections I I0 in themolds'into engagement withthe punches 46 and forces the confectionthereupon. The upward movement of the turntable is continued, until thetop level of the confection has reached the broadest section of thetapered shoulders 41 of the punches 46. At this point the eccentrics 90pass the highest center point and begin to rotate downwardly, loweringthe transverse rod 93. The rod 93 bears against the flanged collar 99apinned to the central shaft 99. The shaft 99 carries with it theturntable I00 and the mold I I5. The punches 4B and shoulders 41 leavecavities I20 and throats I2I respectively, in the confections I I8. Ifdesired, suitable means may be provided tohold the mold in the pocket II3 as the turntable lowers.

When the turntable I00 reaches its lowermost position the lever 13 ismoved out todisengage the clutch and to retract the indexing rod 89 fromthe turntable I00. The turntable I00 is then free to be turned about tobring the first mold II5 directly under the blocks 48 at station B. Inthis position the turntable presents the other aperture I03 or I04 overthe indexing rod 89 and the other notch IN or I02 in alignment with theguide bar 52.

A fresh mold I I 5 containing frozen confections is placed in the pocketII3 under the punches 40 at station A. A stick rack I22 with sticks orhandles I23 in position therein is placed on top of the mold H5 atstation B. The stick rack has been previously filled with sticks orhandles by an operator, the sticks being placed in the sockets providedin the rack and being held in place by the mechanism of the rack. Thesticks I23 in the stick rack are over the holes I20 previously punchedin the confections by punches 46. The lowermost ends of the sticks I23are guided by the throats I2I in the confection I08 into the narrowholes made by the punches 46.

With the two molds H5 in position under stations A and B the secondstage of operation is begun by again engaging the clutch, the resultingaction being identical with that of the first stage of operation.

The raising of the turntable I00 brings the sticks I23 at station B intoengagement with blocks 48 where further upward motion of the sticks isarrested. Continued upward motion of the turntable I00 forces theconfection I08 upon the sticks, the sticks being guided by the cavitiesI20. The sticks I23 are of a greater width and thickness than thecavities I20 and are driven into the confections past the ends of thecavities. The portion of the surface of the stick that is driven intothe confection frictionally engages the confection into which it isdriven so that a firm union between confection and stick results.

Simultaneously with the insertion of the sticks at station B, cavitiesare being formed in the confections contained in the mold at station A.

When the cavities have been formed in the confections at station A andthe sticks are driven into the confections at station B the eccentricsreverse the travel of the turntable I00 and return it to its lowermostposition. The mold H5 and the stick rack I22 at station B are removed asa unit from the machine when the turntable comes to rest in itslowermost position.

Subsequent operation of the machine is identical to the previousoperation, namely, the mold from station A is swung around to a positionunder station E and a stick rack I22 previously filled with sticks ispositioned therein. Secondly a fresh mold I I5 containing frozenconfections is positioned under station A and the machine is operated bythrowing in the clutch lever 13.

The mold and stick rack removed from the machine may be carried as aunit to other departments where the confection is freed from the moldsbut adheres to the sticks in the rack. The stick rack I22 carries thesticks and the confection thereon and may be used for a dipping rack forapplying a coating of chocolate or the like to the confection.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A confection machine for use with a frozen confection mold and astick rack, comprising a plurality of fixed punches in positionscorresponding to the positions of confections in such mold, a table toreceive such mold beneath said punches, means to lift said table todrive such confections onto said punches, such stick rack being seatableover said mold and carrying sticks positioned above the holes made insuch confections by said punches, and a plurality of blocks fixed inpositions away from said punches and corresponding to the positions ofsaid punches, said table being movable to position such mold, rack,confections and sticks beneath said blocks, and said lifting meanslifting such confections and sticks in such mold and rack to press saidsticks against said blocks and drive said sticks into the holes in suchconfections.

2. A confection machine for use with a frozen confection mold and with astick rack seatable on said mold and carrying sticks positioned over theconfections in such mold, comprising a table to receive such mold, aplurality of punches, and a plurality of blocks spaced away from saidpunches, said punches and blocks being in positions corresponding to thepositions of the confections in such mold, and means to lift said tableto press such confections in such mold'onto said punches and lower saidtable to remove the confections from said punches, the stick rack beingseatable on the mold after the withdrawal of the confections from saidpunches, said table being movable to position said confections undersaid blocks, and said lifting means raising said table to press thesticks in the stick rack against said blocks and. drive the sticks intothe holes made by said punches.

3. The device described in claim 2 and in which said punches have astraight end portion and a tapered shoulder.

4. A confection machine comprising a rotatable table, means for indexingand guiding said table in a plurality of positions, means for liftingsaid table, a plurality of pockets on said table, a plurality of punchesopposed to one of said pockets in each position of said table, and aplurality of blocks in positions corresponding to the positions of saidpunches and opposed to another of said I pockets in each position ofsaid table.

ated means for actuating said lifting means, in-

dexing means actuated by said manually operated means to index saidtable in a plurality of positions, guide means to maintain said table insuch indexed position, a plurality of pockets on said table, a pluralityof punches opposed to one of said pockets at each position of saidtable, and a plurality of stick driving blocks in positionscorresponding to the positions of said punches and opposed to another ofsaid pockets in each position of said table.

6. A confection machine for use Witha source of power, comprising arotatable table, having apertures therein and notches at the edgethereof, rotary means for lifting said table, a manually operable clutchfor actuating said rotary means,

an indexing rod actuated coincident to the operation of said clutch toengage an aperture in said table and index said table in one of aplurality of positions, guide bars adapted to engage'a notch in the edgeof said table as said table is lifted in such indexed position, aplurality of pockets on said table and spaced thereon in correspondencewith the plurality of indexed positions of said table, a plurality ofpunches opposed to one of said pockets at each position of said table,and a plurality of stick driving blocks in positions corresponding tothe positions of said punches and opposed to another of said pockets ineach position of said table.

EDWIN L. ELWELL.

